By Kamiya Jani

IT'S arguably one of the most debated subjects at kitty parties, parents- teachers meets and dinner parties. No it's not global warming or the upcoming US Presidential election. It is, in fact, nothing other than the subject of - what is the right age to hand a mobile over to your child? It's not as simple a question as it seems since there are financial, lifestyle, safety, peer pressure and other issues connected to it.

Rahul Mallhotra bought a mobile phone for his 14 year-old son so that he could be in touch with him whenever required on grounds of safety and convenience. But it backfired. Today, he realises his son spends more time on the phone than with his family. Other issues you can face:

• Excessive download of music, games, etc.
• Constant joke forwards and SMSs
• Ease of lying
• Ability to switch off when he does not want to be reached
• Surfing adult content on the internet
• Sky high mobile phone bills
  

So don't fall for it unless your child is mature, emotionally as well as financially to use the device responsibly. The age can be decided by you depending on the development of your child.

The smart solution
As a smart parent you can turn this menace into an advantage. Use this as an opportunity to allow your kid the luxuries only if they are prepared for the consequences and the compromise involved.

Explains Zankhana Shah, Certified Financial Planner, "For example, if you buy them a mobile phone, ask them to let go of their pocket money or some other spending such as celebrating a birthday. You can take this situation as an opportunity to get your kids financially mature. In this way, he will be able to take his financial decisions without letting his self esteem go down. Therefore, you ask him to make a choice by which he learns to let go."

Agrees P V Subramanyam, financial domain trainer, "Once you buy them a phone, let them decide how efficiently they can use their pocket money by paying phone bills along with other activities such as watching a movie, shopping, etc. If you give your kid Rs 1,000 and ask him to pay his phone bill and also get the trendy shoes he has been demanding since a long time, he would automatically cut down on his phone calls to save up money for the shoes. This way he learns to take his own financial decisions."

Every parent has to come to the tough realisation that your kid is not going to listen to whatever you say. The best way to do it is make him accountable for his own decisions sooner so that he can learn from mistakes. But if you’re going to give in unconditionally then you can bet that after he’s got a cell phone, he's going ask for a car! So check him right now!

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e-mail: Kamiya Jani

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